Dinamalar and police sources said about 20 VCK activists, armed with glass bottles and wooden logs, attacked the two watchmen and damaged the window panes and attendance reading machine put up at the entrance.

One of the two watchmen sustained injuries in the head, they said.

Since the employees had closed the second iron gate leading to the newspaper office, the activists could not gain entry into the office.

But in the ten-minute attack, the VCK activists had caused enough damage.

They were protesting against the publication of a news criticising Dalit leader and VCK General Secretary Thol Thirumavalavan, whose party was a constituent of the DMK-led DPA in Tamil Nadu.

The Dinamalar management had lodged a complaint with the Anna Salai police station, which was situated next door to the newspaper office.